Getting Alone with God

Distractions and diversions

When our family answered the call to the missionary life 4 1/2 years ago we understood that one of the challenges we would face being far away from home were the feelings of loneliness and isolation. I had a choice to make about my attitude and perspective. Either I was going to feel sorry for myself or  take advantage of this new arena by learning how to get alone with God instead of entertainment, visiting friends, spending time with family or spending countless hours on social media which for some people is starting to take the place of all other activities. I will deal with social media on another blog post later. If you do not make a conviction about getting alone with God through prayer and bible meditation then life will become just a big distraction itself from the author of life.

Alone at Last

I was recently inspired by a testimony in which they admitted, “I finally got tired of the way my life is.” which was a confession for an inner change. I said to myself now that is the kind of desperation that God responds to. It reminded of Jacobs conversion.

Genesis 32:24 NKJV Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
Finally God had pinned Jacob down so he could begin to deal with him about his character. As spectators reading about this schemer we say AMEN! Thank God! But what about us? Our character? Is it possible for us to be harboring some schemes that is not part of Gods plan?

I want to share this illustration with you. This blog is named the tackle box, so sometimes I will allude to fishing illustrations to help me make a point. Any sport fisherman will have some type of knowledge of fishing lures. There are 3 common varieties that are fished at different water depths (top/mid/bottom)  and speeds. As follows top water/sub surface/mid range-slow sinking/deep diving or trolling lures. Generally speaking when you use a deep diving lure you are trying to locate larger predators that use the darkness of the deep to ambush their prey. Thus the deeper you go the larger the prize. I believe the same is true spiritually. The deeper we dive into Gods presence we become larger (spiritually speaking) people. I will submit this thought to you. If God is going to make our lives fruitful, then he must have access to get deeper in our heart. This will require times in our lives where we will not have anyone else to turn to except God himself. God can and will do more for you than any person or institution.

Ephesians 3:20 NKJV Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…

Let me qualify this a little better by saying it is wise & good to seek council and advice from leaders and fellow brethren at times. I am not saying you should not ask questions.  What I am saying is get alone with God first and see where that leads you, then you can couple that with advice and council. This will help keep your relationships away from resentment and bitterness as well. When we just ask peoples advice and it does not work there is a temptation to blame others for our choices. We say they told me to do this, but it didn’t work.

A divine set up (Would God purposely set you up?)

I believe God wrestled with Jacob alone purposely. Gods plan viewed in hind sight shows us that Jacob was going to be converted to Israel. The truth about Jacob was he was not the type that liked to be confronted if he could not come away with his own plans. Maybe you are experiencing something that has isolated you. You find yourself alone more than usual. Is it possible that God would orchestrate life so you might get alone with him. Do you believe God wants your relationship to get deeper? Can you think of anything that you would want God to change in your character?

HOPE: We can become useful

I believe the heart of God’s people is to make impact for Gods glory. In fact that was the main idea for Jacob “the schemer” becoming Israel “prince with God”. The new testament presents Jacob as a man who had a living relationship with God and is incorporated as one of Gods titles. Jesus spoke of the God of “Abraham, Isaac, and JACOB” as the God of the living. I think when we get alone with God not only will it benefit us, but we will become profitable to others as well.